The TreadRight Foundation, Lion World Travel and African Travel, Inc. have jointly made a generous donation in support of rhino conservation and protection at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa.

Staff from Lion World Travel and African Travel, Inc. recently stayed at Shamwari Game Reserve during a staff educational trip to help build a rhino boma for the current rhino “crash,” which includes three rhinos. Noelle and Winston came to Shamwari as orphans, after poachers killed their mothers. Since arriving at Shamwari, the two have become inseparable—they do everything together including eating, playing and sleeping. Chip is the most recent addition to the rhino crash.

The trip was led by Lucille Sive, CEO of The Travel Corporation's (TTC) Africa Division, who presented a check for R100,000 to general manager Joe Cloete, Dr. Johan Joubert, head veterinarian, and chief ecologist John O'Brien. The donation is the first of many planned as part of Lion World and African Travel's ongoing partnership with the game reserve. 

“We are so passionate about preserving and protecting the places we visit and we're especially passionate about rhino conservation, given that 95% of the world's rhinos have been wiped off the face of the earth,” says Sive. “To be able to visit Shamwari with my team to help build a rhino boma and to present this check is so rewarding, as we know it will help with rhino conservation. Through our partnership with Shamwari, we are so proud that we are able to promote sustainable tourism to South Africa.”

Previous initiatives in support of rhino conservation include microchipping rhinos, and funding the purchase of a “Bat Hawk” sport aircraft, a specially designed lightweight craft used for aerial anti-poaching operations at Shamwari.

With the donation, the team at Shamwari will be able to continue to care for the orphaned rhinos in their Animal Rehabilitation Centre. This includes the construction of a new rhino boma which staff from Lion World Travel and African Travel, Inc. pitched in to help build during their visit.

Celebrating 25 years of “conserving a vanishing way of life,” Shamwari Game Reserve has worked to rehabilitate and consolidate their 25,000 hectares of land so that the flora and fauna may flourish. Guests can help with their conservation efforts by booking select itineraries with Lion World Travel (Tented Safari in Style) and African Travel, Inc. (Majestic South Africa). When guests book these trips, a $50 per couple donation in their name will go towards the building of the rhino boma at Shamwari.

TreadRight, a not-for-profit joint initiative between The Travel Corporation's (TTC) family of brands, is proud to support responsible tourism and wildlife conservation efforts in 2017, the UNWTO's year of sustainable tourism development.

For more details, please visit TreadRight.org. Join TreadRight's social media community on Facebook or Twitter and follow the conversation using the hashtag #LetsTreadRight.